MILFORD -- Milford's Health Department knew it wanted to take a proactive, early approach to fighting mosquitoes this year, so on Tuesday workers were seen poking holes through icy ponds in the marshy areas of Milford to put insecticide in the water.
"The science tells us that the earlier you start, the better chance you will have to reduce the mosquito population," said Deepa Joseph, Milford's Health Department director.
A small team from All Habitat Services was charged with shooting larvae-killing pellets into the pond, which is one of the first lines of defense against mosquitoes. And while we may be seeing record-low temperatures, that doesn't affect the mosquitoes ability to breed. Hence the need to poke holes through the ice.
"We actually have some mosquito breeding going on right now," Joseph said.
Dr. Phillip Armstrong, medical entomologist with the Agricultural Station, said that he expects mosquitoes to return in numbers this season. "We had a pretty mild winter so, if anything, we expect more."
The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station will begin monitoring the insects for early detection of the West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis beginning in June. There 91 such monitoring stations across the state.
"We visit these sights on a weekly rotation," Armstrong said.
Both Joseph and Armstrong said that they will test mosquitoes for the Zika virus as well, though the species of mosquito that transmits Zika has not yet been found in Connecticut. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Protection have expanded the possible reach of Zika-friendly mosquitoes into southern Connecticut, something that was previously not believed to be possible.
Milford's Health Department offers mosquito protection tips, to find out more click here.